Psalm 88 Music

[Neil_Anthony]

Hi,
I can’t seem to find music anywhere for chanting Psalm 88. There seems to be music available for the psalms used for Sunday mass but I guess Psalm 88 is never used at mass. But it is in Liturgy of the Hours Friday Night Prayer and I would like to play it on the organ and chant it, but can’t find the music. Can anyone help?
Neil

 

[MarkThompson]

Are you asking about Psalm 88 according to the Septuagint numbering used in the Vulgate (“The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever”) or according to the Masoretic numbering used in modern Bibles and the Lectionary (“O Lord, the God of my salvation, I call out by day”)? If it’s the latter, you’re right, it is not used on any Sunday or feast during the year, although it is assigned to the Tuesday of Week 26 of Year II.

So assuming you do mean the modern #88, I’m not sure you’re going to find a through-composed version of it. Instead, I would suggest that you simply select an appropriate psalm tone and sing it that way; there are plenty of organ accompaniments for psalm tones out there (Google psalm tone organ accompaniment). Alternatively, if you have the resources, you could to an Anglican-chant-style settling like this one.

PS, I’m assuming that you know what a psalm tone is and how to sing things to them, but if not let me know.

 

[Jerry-Jet]

For those that don’t know–Psalms 88 according to the Masoretic numbering is the saddest chapter in the whole bible.

 

[Neil_Anthony]

Are you asking about Psalm 88 according to the Septuagint numbering used in the Vulgate (“The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever”) or according to the Masoretic numbering used in modern Bibles and the Lectionary (“O Lord, the God of my salvation, I call out by day”)? If it’s the latter, you’re right, it is not used on any Sunday or feast during the year, although it is assigned to the Tuesday of Week 26 of Year II.

So assuming you do mean the modern #88, I’m not sure you’re going to find a through-composed version of it. Instead, I would suggest that you simply select an appropriate psalm tone and sing it that way; there are plenty of organ accompaniments for psalm tones out there (Google psalm tone organ accompaniment). Alternatively, if you have the resources, you could to an Anglican-chant-style settling like this one.

PS, I’m assuming that you know what a psalm tone is and how to sing things to them, but if not let me know.

I’m referring to the modern number 88 “O Lord, the God of my salvation, I call out by day”.
I know what psalm tones are but I don’t know how to select the best one for a psalm. Also does the antiphon require “special” music or is that sung with one of the psalm tones too?
Thanks.

 

[Neil_Anthony]

For those that don’t know–Psalms 88 according to the Masoretic numbering is the saddest chapter in the whole bible.

I find it cheers me up when I’m sad. Not that I’m normally sad, but I’m learning to play psalms on my keyboard and that’s one I like to pray occasionally, but couldn’t find music. My favorite is psalm 23 and its music is in the CBW III.

 

[Splagchnizomai]

I’m referring to the modern number 88 “O Lord, the God of my salvation, I call out by day”.
I know what psalm tones are but I don’t know how to select the best one for a psalm. Also does the antiphon require “special” music or is that sung with one of the psalm tones too?
Thanks.

I’d recommend getting a psalter that has a pointed text. The Revised Grail Psalms (Singing Version with pointed text) are good, and you’ll have to get the melody card. The accompaniment book could be what you’re after too.

I just ordered the 1963 version of the Grail Psalter with Gelineau psalmody. I haven’t received it yet.

If you have the ability, you could write a setting yourself.

 

[MarkThompson]

I’m referring to the modern number 88 “O Lord, the God of my salvation, I call out by day”.
I know what psalm tones are but I don’t know how to select the best one for a psalm. Also does the antiphon require “special” music or is that sung with one of the psalm tones too?
Thanks.

I’m not terribly sure what most people do in the case of English. In Latin, the antiphoner will contain music for each antiphon, and the antiphon will be in one of the eight modes, so you would select the psalm tone for that mode. At least, that is if you’re doing it the official way. Nothing prevents you from just chanting the whole thing recto tono if you want.

I guess it depends on what you are trying to do. Are you doing sung Evening Prayer in a church? (I would assume so, since you mention the organ.) In that case, where are you getting the rest of the antiphons from?

 

[Splagchnizomai]

I’m not terribly sure what most people do in the case of English. In Latin, the antiphoner will contain music for each antiphon, and the antiphon will be in one of the eight modes, so you would select the psalm tone for that mode. At least, that is if you’re doing it the official way. Nothing prevents you from just chanting the whole thing recto tono if you want.

It’s done the same way in English. Google St Meinrad Psalm Tones for a pdf. In fact, St Meinrad (especially Fr Columba Kelly) is a good resource for chant in English.

Developing English Chant
During the past several decades, in addition to his teaching, Fr. Columba has created a body of English chant based on the natural rhythm of spoken word.

Currently, there are more than 1,800 responsories and antiphons in the liturgical books at Saint Meinrad. This music, which represents only part of his work, forms the day-to-day music of the Archabbey. This work has been carried on with the assistance of his confreres, Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB N.B, he compiled the excellent edition of The Office of Compline – Splag], and Fr. Tobias Colgan, OSB.

Fr. Columba has worked with recreating melismatic chants for English texts developed to fit (more or less) the Latin melody. Although the music for the English is similar to that for the Latin, it is not the same. Rather, it has been carefully crafted to respect the rhythm and meaning of the English text.

In addition, Fr. Columba has created wholly new compositions, such as the responsorial psalms for the Third Sunday of Advent and for Christmas Midnight Mass in the melismatic idiom; both are contained on the Advent and Christmas CD.

All of these compositions are an attempt to recreate the tradition for our own time. With its free rhythm and modal sonority, chant has a decidedly modern sense.

His chant settings in English for the Entrance and Communion antiphons of the Catholic liturgy can be found on the website, www.sacredmusicproject.com

link

Recto tono is always an option – and an easy one to accompany on organ.

---

EDIT: Just did a google search “Psalm 88 Mass” and got this. Not sure if this is a setting you’d like to use, but perhaps it will lead you to check out settings for Chrism/Holy Thursday Masses?